October 8, 2021

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly nominated to be Vatican ambassador

Brandon Smith
Joe Donnelly served as Indiana's U.S. senator from 2013 to 2019. - (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

Joe Donnelly served as Indiana's U.S. senator from 2013 to 2019.

(Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

Another Hoosier is joining the Biden administration. The president Friday nominated former U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly to be ambassador to the Vatican.

Donnelly – like Biden, a Catholic – had campaigned for Biden, writing an op-ed last year talking about their shared faith tradition.

The Hoosier Democrat served three terms in the U.S. House before winning the race to replace former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in 2012. He lost his re-election bid in 2018 to now Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

His appointment as ambassador to the Holy See must be confirmed by the Senate.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.

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